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India is poised to take center stage in the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with the upcoming Global AI Summit and the GPAI Global Summit.

Central idea

As AI is projected to contribute significantly to India’s economy, accounting for 10% of its GDP by 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rightly called for a global framework on the ethical expansion of AI. In this context, it is imperative that India address the unique challenges concerning children and adolescents in the AI landscape.

The act is new legislation that aims to overhaul the decades-old Information Technology Act of 2000.
The Act covers a range of topics such as AI, cybercrime, data protection, deepfakes, competition issues among internet platforms, and online safety.
The Act also aims to address new complex forms of user harm that have emerged in the years since the IT Act’s enactment, such as catfishing, doxxing, trolling, and phishing.

Creating new regulations around newer technology, including 5G, IoT devices, cloud computing, the metaverse, blockchain, and cryptocurrency
Reclassifying online intermediaries into separate categories instead of one general intermediary label, each with its own set of regulations
Removing safe harbor immunity for online intermediaries for purposeful misinformation or other content violations from third parties
Creating digital standards and laws regarding artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology
Criminalizing cyberbullying, identity theft, and unauthorized sharing of personal information without consent.

Establish a regulatory framework that aligns industry incentives with the well-being of young users.
Implement measures to combat exploitative AI practices, ensuring the safety and mental health of children and adolescents.
Provide guidance and tools for families to navigate the digital landscape responsibly.
Promote inclusivity and fairness by addressing biases and discrimination in AI systems.
Revise data protection provisions to strike a balance between privacy and personalization, recognizing the unique needs of young users.

India can draw on international best practices to develop child-centric AI regulations.
UNICEF’s guidance for policymakers on AI and children, aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, provides a framework for creating an enabling environment that prioritizes children’s well-being, inclusion, fairness, non-discrimination, safety, transparency, explaining ability, and accountability.

Learning from California’s Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, Indian authorities can push for transparency in digital services by configuring default privacy settings, assessing the impact of algorithms and data collection on children, and using age-appropriate language for user-facing information.
Research on AI’s benefits and risks for Indian children and adolescents should inform the development of an Indian Age-Appropriate Design Code for AI.

Establishing institutions for regular dialogue with children and adolescents is crucial.
Similar to Australia’s Online Safety Youth Advisory Council, these institutions could comprise individuals between the ages of 13 and 24.
Such entities will help regulators better understand the threats young people face while interacting with AI systems and preserve the benefits they derive from digital services.

In the era of rapidly evolving AI, India’s regulatory approach must prioritize openness, trust, and accountability over rigid prescriptions. As India progresses towards comprehensive Internet regulation and seeks to lead in global AI governance, safeguarding the interests of its young citizens should remain at the forefront of its policy agenda.

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